Railway-switch.



No. 380,389. PATENTED FEB. 2 5, 1908.

- P.STANSON RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 1907.

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PETER STANSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed July 2. 1907. Serial No. 381.822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER STANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented new and use-- controlling devices on the switch stand are broken or rendered inoperative, thereby avoiding liability of accidents.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the application of the switch mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 represents the main line rails, 2 the branch line or siding rails, and 3 the switch points, pivotally mounted in any suitable manner for swinging movement in reverse directions to alternately open and close the main and branch tracks.

Secured upon one of the ties or sleepers, namely, the tie or sleeper 4, which has an extension forming a switch stand 5, are casing 6 of similar construction, through which extendduplicate rods or bars 7, 7 arranged to slide therein for operating the switch points 3. The rods or bars are threaded at their inner ends and adjustably connected by a turn-buckle 8, by which they may be relatively adjusted as circumstances may require to compensate for expansion and contraction and to accurately connect the switch rails for their proper spacing apart, and the outer ends of said rods are formed with angularly bent portions 9 which pass through bracket plates 10 fitted to the respective switch rails. These angularly bent portions 9 are equipped with securing nuts 11 to limit their inner movement relative to the brackets, and the rod 7 is extended beyond the bracket and beneath the adjoining track rail to provide a switch operating arm 12. Arranged within the casings are coiled springs 13, which respectively encompass the rod sections and are arranged between end walls of the casings and nuts or adjustable heads 14 threaded upon the rods and closing the opposite ends of the casing, the construction being such that the expansive action of the springs maintains the heads 14 in a prescribed position and holds the switch rails 3 normally in position to connect the main track rails for the passage of a train along the said track. It will be understood, of course, 'that by means of the nuts the action of the springs may be regulated at any time.

Connected to the arm 12 is a link 15 which couples the same to an angular throw lever 16 journaled in a bearing 17 upon the switch stand 5, by the movement of which in opposite directions beyond the bearing motion may be transferred to the rods to swing the switch points to connect the main line with the branch tracks or to connect the sections of the main track with each other at the switch points. The lever is slotted for en gagement with staples 18 and 19 on the switch stand by which lever may be fastened in adjusted position by a pad-lock or other suitable form of lock 20 adapted to engage the staples. It will, of course, be understood, however, that any other type and arrangement of means for throwing the switch may be employed.

The rod or bar 7 is provided with rack teeth 21 to mesh with a toothed segment 22 mounted on a short shaft 23 j ournaled upon the tie 4 and an adjacent tie, said shaft being provided with a receiving socket or otherwise constructed for the application of a lever, whereby the said rod and the switch rail connected therewith may be shifted by the trainmen in event of the breakage of the turn-buckle or other possible disengagement of the bars or rails 7, 7.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the switch mechanism will be readily understood, and it will be seen that by of said casings and operating rods on the side .of the tie 4 below the upper surface thereof the parts will be protected to a maximum extent against injury by the contact therewith of falling brake beams or other parts of the brake gear of a car dropping down and running over the surfaces of the ties. It will be seen also that, by adapting the springs to always maintain the switch rails to always set them to the main line, any possible shifting of the parts in the event that the links 15 or the switch controlling lever 16 should become broken will be effectually prevented, thus obviating liabilityof accidents. I Furthermore,the casings 6 prevent ready interference with the springs by train Wreckers.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a switchvmechanism, and in combination with main and branch track rails, and swinging switch rails, independent casings arranged upon one of the ties of the track structure below the rails, rods slidably mounted within said casings, means adjustably connecting the rods between the casings, and springs within the casings acting on the rods to maintain the same in a prescribed position, operating means connected with one of the rods, and auxiliary operating means connected with the other rod.

2. In a switch mechanism, and in combination with main and branch track rails, and swinging switch rails, casings arranged upon one of the ties of the track structure below the rails, said casings being each open at one end, rods slidable longitudinally in the casings,'nuts upon the rods closing the open ends of the casings, springs within the casings about the rods between'said nuts and the closed ends of the casings, the outer ends of the rods being connected with the in said casings, an adjustable connection between the inner ends of the rods, brackets connecting the outer ends of the rods to the switch rails, heads upon the rods within the casings, springs in the casings operated on said heads, and adjusting mechanism connected with one of the rods.

4. In a railway switch, and in combination with main and branch track rails, and swinging switch rails, casings upon one of the ties below the rails, spring actuated rods slidably mounted in said casings and con.- nected at their outer ends with the switch rails, an adjustable connection between the rods intermediate the casings, one of the rods being provided with rack teeth, operating means connected with the other rod, a segment meshing with said rack teeth, and a shaft journaled upon the track structure for actuating said segment.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER STANSON.

Witnesses:

U. 0. THORI, WILLIAM C. QUIEL. 

